Abstract
Holding two-thirds of the world’s oil reserves and one-third of its natural gas resources, while supplying over forty percent of global crude oil, the Persian Gulf occupies an indispensable position in international dynamics. Employing Immanuel Wallerstein’s World-Systems Theory, this study explores the strategic posture of this region within the overarching structure of international political economy. The fundamental research question asks: “What position does the Persian Gulf region hold within Wallerstein’s tripartite division of core, semi-periphery, and periphery?” The research hypothesis posits that although the Persian Gulf exhibits typical “peripheral” characteristics due to its traditional function as an exporter of raw energy, it is transitioning toward a “semi-peripheral” status by leveraging novel drivers such as the financial prowess of sovereign wealth funds (SWFs), economic diversification, and dynamic regional diplomacy. Utilizing a qualitative descriptive-analytical method grounded in reliable documentary data, this study examines this transitional process. The findings demonstrate that this structural transition, alongside transforming regional dynamics, has turned the Persian Gulf into a focal point of geopolitical competition between emerging and established powers, thereby intensifying the region’s strategic and security complexities.